Conveyer



April 25, 1933. J. H. MaCLAUCHLAN CONVEYER Filed Deo. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l J. H. MacLAUcHLAN 1,905,924

CONVEYER Filed Dec, 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 25, 1933.

April 25, 1933. J. H. MacL ALJc:l-l| ,\r-|A 1,905,924

CONVEYER Filed Deo. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l {MA/wm fi U Ol Patented Apr. 25, 1933 JAMES MACLAUCHLAN, or NEW Yemen'. Y.

@OFFICE CON VEYER Application filed December 20, 1928. SeralNo. 327,258;

This invention relates to What may be l called process conveyers by which material of one kind or another is subjected to treatment, as by heat, for example, While being transported by the conveyer and in which each carrier, such as a platform, pan or other support or receptacle for the material, must be maintained in horizontal or substantially horizontal position during its movement, eX cept when the materialis to be discharged therefrom, notwithstanding the fact that such supports or receptacles may be `caused to travel to and `t'ro at different levels. The invention isparticularly concerned with the means whereby eachA such carrier or receptacle issupported during its travel and is connected to the endless chain or chains by Which its movement is effected, With the means by which horizontal position of each receptacle is maintained While it moves from one level to another, with the means 4by which each such receptacle is caused to dischargethe material thereon at the point of unloadingand is returned to position for reloading, With the means for taking `'up slack in the conveyer chains, and with de-v tails of construction and arrangement to be referred to more particularly hereinafter.

The invention will be more fully explained vhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated as embodied in a suitablek structure, and in which: Figure l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a conveyer which embodies the invention, partly broken out to save space. f

Figure 2 is a partial view of the same as seen from above along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, Valso partly broken out.

Figure 3 is a view of the parts shown in Figure 2 as seen in side elevation.

Figure 4 is al vievvin elevation of someof the parts shown in FiguresQ and 3, as seen from the left hand, theV casing being shown in section.

above valong the line 5)*5 of Figure l, partly broken out. j y

Figure 6 is a view insidel elevation of the parts shown in Figure 5, With some parts in section. y

Figure 7 is a view in elevation, partly broken out, of some of the parts shown in Figures 5 and 6 as `seen Jfrom the right hand, some parts of thecasingbeing shown in section. Figure 8 is a detail View illustrating particularly a form otdevicewhich `may be employed in shiftingthe carrier from one levely to another. y y

Figure 9 isa detail View illustrating a slightly vdiiterent form of devicevvhich may be employed in shifting the carrier from one level to another. f v

vIt Will be understood that .the design of the conveyer Will be suited in each instance to the natureof the material to be treated and the nature'ot the treatment. In the embodiment of the inventionY illustrated'in Figure l of the drawings -the carriers by which the material is transported are arranged to receive the material at aloading point at the upper right hand portion lof the structure and to travel in successive horizontal paths untilthey reach the lower right hand portionl Where each carrier is made to discharge its load, 'beingthen -re` turned to the `loading point. For. convenience one form of means by Which each carrier lis shifted from one level to another yand is maintained in a horizontalV or substantially horizontal position, is illustrated,`such means being shovvn in detail in. Figures?, and 6. In Figures 8 and 9 are shown other forms of such means which are particularly advantageous f for use When the carrier is to be moved in a horizontal position upward from one level to a higher level-or When the material transported is liquid in character so that it isnecessary to preserve with greater Figure 5 isa partial View as seen from certainty the horizontal position of each carrier as it is moved from one level to another, whether upward or downward.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure l the conveyer is supported by a suitable frame work parts of which are indicated at a. The carriers in this instance are shown as shallow pans b with their ends overlapping, as shown in Figure 1 and on a larger scale in Figure 6. The pans are connected to endless chains c, one at each side of the pans and movement is imparted to the chains from any suitable source of power, such as that indicated at Z in Figure l. ported during movement'on tracks which are indicated generally at e in Figure 1. Ifthe track is made with a continuous surface, it is suiiiciently wide to affordtwo courses in different verticalplanes. Elements such as those mentioned are `common to conveyers of the class referred to. Various details of construction and arrangement with which the present invention is more particularly concerned will now be described in their relations to the primary elements mentioned and `to each other.

' Each carrier b is shown as having at its head or leading end, in the construction shown, at'each side of the pan, a socket b2 which receives rotatably a stud c2 which may be anextended hinge pin' of vthe chain c, the stud being grooved, as at el (Figure 2), to receive a cotter pin c3 to prevent separation of the carrierlandchain. The stud or in c2 receives a roller c4 vfor cooperation Vwith the track e. 1he'forward` or leading end of the carrier is thusnot only connected .to the. chains but is supported upon the track in its movement. At the rear or following end of each carrier, and at each side thereof, the carrier has a stud?)3 which receives a roller c5, alsofor cooperation with the track e but preferably in a diiferentlongitudinal leo plane Qfrom the corresponding roller 'et on the VsameV side. l The rollers c are free yof the chains c. As the rollers c4 have a fixed relation with the chains, the rollers of* may be conveniently referred to as fixed rollers, while the rollers c5 may be referred to as free rollers. A Y

The chains c, are shown as actuated from the source of power d through a chain or belt Z1 and a wheel (Z2 on avshaft cl3 which lis shown (See VFigures 6 and 7) as armed with sprocket wheels (Z4. It will be understood that only one of the shafts d'3 has power applied to it, the other Vshafts d3, shownin Figure l, being mounted, like the first shaft 2in fixed bearings inthe frame and having sprocket wheels d mounted thereon. Y

` The chains c pass about the sprocket wheels d4 and at the other end of each loop or change of level they pass about sprocket The chains and the carriers are supwheels f which are carried by take-ups so that the initial tension of the chains can be adjusted and so that compensation for wear and stretching can be made. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the sprocket wheels f are mounted on a frame f1 which is engaged with a shaft f2. The latter has at each end a block f3 which is engaged by a threaded rod f4 extended through a block al on the frame a. Outside of the block a1 the threaded rod f4 receives an adjusting nut f5 by which the'position of the shaft f2 may be adjusted to regulate the "tension of the chains. To insure uniform tension of both chains the two adjusting nuts f5 are provided withV sprocket teeth f6 and the two sprockets thus formed are connected by a chain f7 so that together.

The carriers and the chains are supported in longitudinal movement by tracks e, which may be arranged at levels or in different positions suited.y to the nature of the material and of the treatment to which it is to be subjected. During such movement both the fixed rollers c4 and the-free rollerscvtravel on the tracks. At the. time of change from one level to another, whether downward or upward, the head ends of the carriers move with the chains which support them v'about the axes of the sprocket wheels y in arcs4 dctermined by the diameter of the 'sprocket wheels, it being understood that they end of both vnuts shall be rotated each carrierY which was forward during the movement of the carrier in one direction, becomes the rearward end when the carrier has passed from' one level to another and moves in the opposite direction. Provision must be made,.therefore, for guiding the free end of each carrier during its movement from one levelto another. 'In .the treatment of solids it isy not always necessary that the carriers be maintained in 'eX- actly I one level to another.` The means ffor vguiding and supportingthe free ends of the carriers which are illustrated in Figures 1-7 of the drawings vanswer'for suchl uses and will now be described.

It will be understood that the devices em'-V ployed for supporting the free ends of the carriers when the carriers change direction from left to right, asin the `construction shown in Figure vl, differfrom the means for supporting and guiding the free ends of the carriers when they change direction from right to left. The means employed when the carriers'change'direction from left to right are shown at the leftn hand inFigure l and in detail and on a larger scale in "l Figures 2, 3 and 4. 'lhatfportion ofeach track e on which the corresponding roller .05

vtravels isinterrupted at adistance from the end of the track equal to the distancebetween the fixed roller andthe free roller 'in horizontal positions vasthey pass-from order to permitl the free roller to pass downward from the upper track to the` lower. When a take-up is employed, as shown in the several iigures yreferred to, `the upper part f of the take-upframe f1 forms a continuation of l'the-track e on that side, being providedwith an extension/12 for the purpose of bridging any gap'which might beleft, bythe operation of: the `:take-up,

between the end of the track c and the track' portion of the frame f1. `The track portion 'll of the frame f1 is formed with a gap fla in the line of travel of the free rollers c5 so that as each free roller c5 reaches the gap it will pass downward into the gap, the roller 04 meanwhile passing through the arc determined by the coaction of the chain c and the sprocket wheel f- Below the gap fle the frame f1 is provided with a convex curved guide fm having the same arc of curvature as that through which the roller c4 moves and with a concave curved guide f which is pivoted on the frame at f1 and is so balanced that it assumes normally the position shown in Figure 3. The concave guiding surface of the guide piece 7'15 is continued by the concave guiding surface of a guide piece f, pivoted at f and so balanced that it assumes normally the position shown in Figure 3. By these guiding devices the free roller c5 is directed from the upper track to the lower track in the same arc of movement as that of the roller cf* and substantially parallel therewith. Necessary freedom of fit may permit a slight deviation of the carrier from a horizontal position, but such deviation is not sufficient to cause the discharge of solids from the carrier. lVhenthe roller c4 reaches the lower track and moves to the right the pivoted guiding devices f and f will yield to permit the passage of the roller of* and will return to normal guiding position as soon as it has passed.

At the other end of each chain loop, where the carriers pass from an upper track to a lower track and the direction of movement changes from right to left, the rollers supported by the chains, pass about the sprocket wheels ci* as will be understood. rlhe upper track is formed with a gap el which permits the passage of the roller c4 from the upper track to the lower track. Each upper track is provided with an overhalanced switch e2 pivoted'on a horizontal axis as at e3 and extended rearwardly or to the left. lVhen the free roller c5 has passed through the gap el the switch e2 swings from the position shown by broken lines in Figure 6, down upon the track to cover the gap, so that the free roller c5 f Y of the next carrier will ride upon the switch e2 across the gap el. As the roller c5 reaches the other member e4 of the switch it will tilt the switch to the position shown by the carrier broken lines in Figure v6 so thatthe roller c4E shall pass under the elevated end ofathe member e2 and through the' gap' e1.4 .As the free rollerfc5 passes fronrthe portione* 'of the switch the switch will swing back to position `to cover theV gap and receivefthe free roller '05 of thel next carrier b.. The upper track is provided withv a'convex guide piece e5 by which Vthe rollerlc-is guided as the roller c4 passes with the chain about the sprocket wheelalV andthe lower track isv provided with a concave extension ef which receives the'roller o5 as it reaches its middle positionk and guides lit downward to the lower tracke in an arc parallel with the arc through whichV the roller `GLm'oves, the carrier being maintained in aV substan tially horizontal position. lNear butv somewhat'beyond the point at whichthe carrier is to be made to discharge itsload the chains pass about guiding sprockets 'g and pass thence, vertically or otherwise, about other guiding sprockets g1 somewhat in advance of the loading position. The roller' @4f and therefore the corresponding end of `eachicarrier-'pass with the chains about the sprockets g and g1, the rollers being thus, restored to the uppermost track.l Thev lowermost track, or that portion upon which `run the rollers c5, however, has a sharp drop, as at e7 ('Figure l),-followed by an inclined rise 62a substantially vertical portion e", and an outwardly inclined portion e110. The free end of each carrier isfthereby permitted to drop so that the carrier assumes at first a vertical position and then swings over through the' vertical-` position lsoV that the loadV of the carrier shall be completely discharged. Each carrier continues in al substantially vertical position until its leading vendv passes over the upper sprockets -grlv and the'carrier is drawn back into a horizontal position iin readiness to receive its load. n i In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure l- 'a vloading hopper, indi--V cated at h, dischargesfthe-'material upon each carrier as it passes under the hopper. Spill deectingplates'ltl are llocated at the sides of the conveyer todirect upon the carrier of the nextlower series such materialasmay` spill over the edges of the first carrier, other deflecting plates being provided ltor each loop, as shown at k2, 7b3 and h4. able wipermay be providedfas purposevoic leveling the load on each carrier as it passes from the loading device.

As has been stated above, in some cases, as when the material transported is more or less liuent, it is desirable to provide means whereby the horizontal position of each car# rier shall'be preserved with certaintywhen passes fromone leve-l to another. For this purpose, as shown Ain" Figure 8, `there may be provided at each side of' the conveyer a toothed wheel `or sprocket "'prosr4 An adjustat h5, for they vided at its periphery with notches il arranged to engage the roller 0 5 at the free end of the carrier b. The Wheel or sprocket z' is made to rotate synchronously with the sprocket Wheelf, as bymeans of Va driving chain 2, which engages a chain Wheel f2 fast to the sprocket f and a chain Wheel 712 fast tothe Wheel z'. As the head end of the carrier reachesy the sprocket Wheel` f, the free end reaches the Wheel z' and its roller 05 is engaged by such Wheel so that in the continued movement of the chains the free end of the carrier will move eXactly with the head end andthe horizontal position of the carrier Will be maintained. It Will be understood that such Wheel z' is provided at each side of the conveyer.

A device for insuring the` horizontalposition of the carrier similar to that just described, but arrangedmore particularly to insure the horizontal position of the carrier as it movesl up from one level to a higher level, is shown in Figure 9 in relation. With a dumping arrangement such as that already described.-V In this construction a toothed Wheel 1 is shown as adapted to receive theree roller@5 of each carrier b as the roller 04 of the same carrier, at each side thereof, moves over the corresponding sprocket wheel f. The Wheels y 10 are respectively coupled to the sprocket Wheels f, as bychains 21 as before, and the lower track e may beformed with a concave guiding extension 621 for cooperation-With the roller 05 at eachside. The dumpingarrangement which the courses upon which the carriers are supported attheir free ends are interrupted, and in Which pivoted guiding Vdevices are provided on the inner courses to facilitate the guiding of the free ends of the carriers as the chainsl supporting the other ends pass about the guide Wheels.

This lspecification signed this 6th day of December A. D. 1928. Y

vJ AMES H. MAOLAUCHLAN.

illustrated in Figure 9 is substantially the Y same as that illustrated in Figure l and requires no further description. Y

It will be understood that these devices for insuring the horizontal positions of the carriers as they move from one level to another and change direction, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, may be employed in place of or vwith the Vguiding and supporting devices shown in Figure l and are .illustrated separately in order to avoid confusion.

It will also be understood thatv various changes inl construction and arrangement can be made to suit dilerent conditions of vuse and that the invention, except as pointed out in the accompanying claim, is not restricted to the particular constructions shown and described herein.y

I claim as my invention:

A process conveyer having conveyer chainsguide Wheels for the chains,'c ar`riers, and invvhich tracks yare provided at each side of the conveyerforming a plurality of eoursesin different vertical planes,y and each carrier is pivoted to the conveyer chains at one endonly, and has at that end rollers supported upon certain/of the courses and at .its other end is :tree from the chains and has rollers vsupported upon' other of .the courses indifferent vertical planes, and in 

